On July 9, 2011, South Sudan, in East-Central Africa, formally obtained their independence after the results of a referendum showed an overwhelming 98.83% voted for separation. The referendum was held several months earlier in January with ABC News reporting that of the 27,000 southern Sudanese living in Australia, approximately 9,000 were eligible to vote. A … Read more

State Library of Queensland has an extensive collection of historical maps of Queensland, some of which have been digitised and can be viewed online. This real estate map from 1882 advertises 84 allotments of land for sale at the Wilson Estate in the Brisbane suburb of Sandgate. The allotments were situated on Petty Street (now … Read more

Lightships were used in various locations in Queensland as an effective means to protect shipping from the dangers of reefs or shoals, or as general navigational aids. They were to prove an effective and cheaper alternative to lighthouses or beacons especially where these were not able to be built. As part of the Commonwealth’s responsibility … Read more

Readers of the John Oxley Library blog may remember a previous post regarding photographs of Frank Tunley and the wonderful dolls’ houses, models, maps and educational aids which he created for the children at the Brisbane School for the Blind (later known as Narbethong State Special School). One of the wonderful outcomes of our Magnificent … Read more

During October this year the residents of the Yamsion district forwarded an invitation to State Library and the Queensland Memory team to attend their Back to Yamsion Day. Prior to receiving the invitation, I had not heard of the township of Yamsion or any of the other settlements referred to by the organising committee as … Read more

State Library of Queensland has an extensive collection of historical maps of Queensland, some of which have been digitised and can be viewed online. This real estate map from 1887 advertises 194 allotments of land for sale at the Croydon Park Estate, which is today part of the Brisbane suburbs of Norman Park and Camp … Read more